Electrical heater for liquid cooled engines



June 11, s, URBANT ET AL ELECTRICAL HEATER FOR LIQUID COOLED ENGINESFiled April 18, 1944l 5 Sheets-Sheet l I m'entor g, @MM

Wm@ Hmm June 1l, 1946. s; URBANT ETAL ELECTRICAL HEATER FOR LIQUIDCOOLED ENGINES Filed April 18, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Im'mvtor 'SAMUeA/VT any /anmm BAL/PH L. f? B/zf/UN, By r June 11, 1946. s. URBANTEmu.-

ELECTRICAL HEATER FOR LIQUID COOLED ENGINES Filed April 18, 1944 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventar 6AM (lean/v7' EALPH Lf? BEAU/v,

Patented .lunel 11, 1946 ELECTRICAL HEATER FOB LIQUID COOLED ENGINES SamUrbant, lnhter, and Ralph L. P. Braun, Ann Arbor, Mieli.

Applicatie api-u is, 1944. sei-ni Nn. 531,006

ichlm. l

This invention relates to novel and improved electrical heating meansfor liquid-cooled engines, the same having more particular reference tsimple and expedient devices for coaction with the cylinder block andthe circulatory cooling medium to provide for practicable and easystarting during cold weather.

More specifically, the invention relates to alternatively usable formsof electrical water heaters applicable to the engine block through themedium of existing expansion plug holes, there being an immersion-typeheater unit with which the water or other circulatory medium is broughtinto contact, this to heat the water sufficiently to establishcirculation and prevent the same from congealing or freezing.

In reducing the preferred embodiments of the invention to actualpractice, we have evolved and produced heater devices in the form ofattachments, the attachments being placed in position without requiringalterations of existing or stock parts, provision being made forattachment of conventional or ordinary plug-equipped cords using eitherA. C. or D. C. current, and thermo- 'static control devices beingincorporated, ii.'

desired.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings. wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevationalview of a portion of an engine block showing one type or style ofelectric heater attachment applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken approximately on the plane of theline 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an edge elevational view of the attachment per se.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of a portion of theimmersion coil or electric heating element. Y

Figure 6 is a cross section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 6 8 ofFigure 5.

Figure 'I is a view like Figure 1 showing a modified form of attachmentsuch as we also contemplate using.

Figure 8 is a section on the line l-I of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an elevational view of the attachment shown in Figures 7 and8.

Figure 10 is a top plan view with a portion of the motor block brokenaway to show how the adapter means o! the attachment lits into anexpansion plug-hole of the water jacket.

Figure 11 is a view like Figures 1 and 'I showing the engine block witha modified type of plug closure and water heater element appliedthereto.

Figure 12 is a section on the line I2-I2 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is an enlarged detailed outer end elevation of the attachmentper se.

Figure 14 is a section taken approximately on the plane of the lineI4-Il ot Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a view like Figure 14 showing a further modiiication inconstruction.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals andnrst to the embodiment of the invention seen in Figures 1 to 6,inclusive, it will be seen that the engine block is indicated by thereference character B. The water circulating jacket is shown toadvantage in Figure 2 as at J.

The attachment, this being the exterior type. comprises a substantiallyrectangular casing II having an adapter neck I2 which slips into theexpansion plug hole in the jacket after the plug has been removed, thisas brought out to advantage in Figure 2. In practice, a gasket orpacking ring I3 surrounds the adapter neck bearing against the jacket onone side and the casing II on the other. A longitudinally bowedanchoring element I4 of appropriate dimension is located on the insideof the wall of the jacket in the water space and this is provided with abolt I5 which passes outwardly through the neck and also outwardlythrough one wall oi the casing to accommodate an assembling and clampingnut I6. This provides the convenient means for readily and detachablyapplying the attachment. It also affords a liquid-tight connectionwhereby the cooling liquid or medium circulates from the jacket throughthe neck and into the heater casing II. The heating element or coil isof appropriate configuration and is indicated at I1 in Figure 4. Theconstruction of this element I1 is brought out in Figure 5 in which itwill be observed that the numeral IB denotes the tube with an insulatedlining I9 for housing the electric resistance coil or wire 20. Theterminal ends of the heating coil extend through an insulated fitting 2lin an accommodation neck 22 and are provided with terminals 23 toaccommodate the electric plug (not shown).

This particular form of the invention constitutes an exterior typeattachment as is evident and by attaching the source of current supplyto the terminals 23, the element I1. is heated to thedesireddelree.Aaooonasthewateris slightly heated it bolina to circulate and congeallngand freeaing h thereby prevented. It is pcssible to keep the heater onovernight, or to apply it preparatory to starting the motor beforeleaving on cold mornings. Consequently, we have here a simple andexpedient attachment which is aptly ntted for the purposes intended.

Somewhat the same basic idea and principle is carried out in themodification disclosed in l Figures 'I to 10. inclusive.

'Ihe attachment here comprises an adapter plug Il which lits snugly intothe hole in the Jacket. the plug including an outside flange 2l whichmay be provided with a packing element. 'Ihe anchoring means herecomprises a crosspiece Il having a screw-threaded stem or bolt 21 whoseouter threaded end passes through the plug to accommodate the clampingnut Il. In this arrangement the electric heating element is oi' generalU-shaped form as denoted at Il and parallel free ends project throughand beyond insulated sleeves ll mounted in the plug body. Clamping nuts3| serve to assemble the parts and to provide prongs for attachment ofthe conventional electric plug (not shown). In this arrangement theheating element 2l hangs down into the water space as brought out toadvantage in Figure 8.

In both forms of the invention we provide adapter means to iit into theconventional expansion plug-hole of the jacket, said means serving as amounting for the electric coil whether it be inside or outside. We alsoprovide an anchoring element to span the inside of the plughole opening,this being provided with an assembling bolt and retaining nutarrangement. These are, therefore. common characteristics of the twoembodiments or forms of the invention.

Reference is made now to the modifications depicted in Figures 1l to 15,inclusive. However, attention is ilrst directed to Figures l1 to 14,showing one of these two additional modifications. As seen in Figure .14in particular, the attachment, generally speaking. is composed ci' acup-like closure plug l! and a companion or complementa] cartridge ll.The part l! is, as indicated, in the form of a cup and includes aconcavo-convex portion u with a marginal outstanding or annularsurrounding rim Il. The latter fits snugly into the expansion plug-holein the engine block as shown in Figure 11 and this projects thecartridge Il into the water jacket as shown in Figure 12. The cartridgecomprises an enclosing casing It attached to an adapter disk il, thelatter conforming to the cup-part 34 and being coniined in the casing Itand carrying an insulator Il grooved to accommodate the electric heatingelement or wire I9. 'I'he cartridge is soldered or otherwise fastened asat Il to the cup I2. The usual prongs 4I are provided, these beingcmnected with the associated parts to properly conduct the current, thisin an obvious manner. It is evident that this is a pressed iit typeexpansion plug arrangement, the heating element being in the form. oi' acartridge simply soldered on the cup-like plug.

Referring now to the remaining `rnodiiieatllon seeninl'igurei5,thepartsareaimilarto.thcae Just described. That is to say. the plugor adapter unit l! is provided with a cartridge u, the latter comprisesa suitable casing or shell ll hav ing the disk Il plusged into one end.this carrying the insulator Il. the insulator grooved to accommodate theheating element Il. The heating element is mounted in grooves and isconnected to the prongs Il to accommodate the usual conductor cord. Inthis instance. the disk Il is provided with a central screw-threadedsocket to accommodate the shank of the assembling and clamping bolt Il.This bolt has its headed end passed through a central opening in theconcavo-convex plug element, the latter in the form of a concave-convexpart It whose marginal portion is adapted to fit into the expansionplug-hole in the engine jacket. There is a gasket or washer marginallyinterposed between adjacent pojtions of the parts l2 and ll, the saidgasket being denoted by the numeral Il. This type oi plug is expanded bydriving it into place when installed, the expansion plug 42 is fastenedto the cartridge Il by a bolt which when tightened expands the plug andanchors the parts in place in properly assembled relationship.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in'the shape, size and arrangement of details comingwithin the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actualpractice, if desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A water heater attachment for application to a standard expansionplug-hole in a water circulating jacket comprising a disc-like plug tofit snugly in said expansion plug-hole, said plug including a bodyportion to project and fit in the hole and a relatively thin marginalannular flange, the latter to rest against the exterior surface of saidwater jacket, a relatively narrow cross bar serving as a. clampingelement, said bar being adapted for disposition on the interior of thejacket and being arranged against the inner end of the body of the plugwith its end portions extending beyond the marginal edge of the body andin the range of the marginal edge of said ilange, said end being adaptedto engage the water jacket on opposite sides of said expensionplug-hole, a centrally located bolt carried by said cross bar andextending outwardly through and beyond the body oi the plug, anassembling and clamping nut on the outer threaded end of said bolt,insulated sleeves embedded in said plug, and a U-shaped water heaterelement having its end portions fitted and anchored in said sleeves andprovided with externally exposed termlnals, said terminals toaccommodate the current supply plug or equivalent means.

SAM URBANT RALPH n P. naamw.

